PlayStation 4 Comes With PS Plus Trial

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Sony fans got all sorts of good news at the company’s Gamescom press conference. Not only did they learn when the system will be releasing – November 15 in the U.S., November 29 in European markets – but they also got word about a nice little surprise that’s in the box.

The company has confirmed that every PlayStation 4 system will come with a code for a 14-day trial for PlayStation Plus, the company’s premium online membership. With it comes access to an Instant Game Collection, which will not only include a special edition of the company’s driving game, DriveClub, but also the latest from the Super Stardust developers at Housemarque, an extraordinary side-scrolling shooter called Resogun.

Users simply need to log in online and enter the code to redeem the membership. Following the trial period, they’ll have the option to extend it.

In addition, Sony announced that anyone who signs up for a new year membership for the service between now and the end of next month will get a 90-day extension, free of charge. Nothing beats getting some extra months!

Source: MCV

This Week’s [a]list Jobs – August 20

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To paraphrase LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, launching a career is a little bit like leaping off a cliff, building an airplane on the way down, and taking flight before you reach the bottom. Here are three professionals’ success stories we can all take a page from via Fast Company.

This week’s [a]list jobs:

[a]list daily is now your source for the hottest job openings for senior management and marketing in games, entertainment and social media. Check here every Wednesday for the latest openings. To see last week’s [a]list jobs click here.

Ancient Naval War Made Real

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Total War: Rome 2 is looking like a swell simulation, a game that will engulf players for hours on end as they learn tactics and overtake checkpoints like a true soldier would. Today, The Creative Assembly revealed a new trailer for the game, one that talks about how important it is to master naval warfare. As you proceed, you’ll strategize to make the most of your attacks, having long distance units strike with arrows while up-close vehicles do damage by ramming.

Total War: Rome 2 launches on September 3 for Windows PC.

 

‘Puppeteer’ Pulls Strings For Fun

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Sony’s Puppeteer, which was initially unveiled last year, is moving right along in development. To show how it’s been progressing – and get you excited for its digital release this fall – Sony has released a new trailer for it. Though it’s mostly in Japanese, it’s easy to make out what’s happening, with the scissors-based cutting gameplay and the beautiful world that Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio has created. You can watch the video below.

The game doesn’t have a U.S. release date yet, but should arrive later this year.

 

Do These Ads Bug You?

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Perhaps you were wondering just how far advertising might travel in order to reach you. One graphic designer, Ryan Teo, has put forth a vision of a smaller ad venue that might carry a real sting. These ads aren’t real, but they may inspire some creative marketing. Branded monsters in games… “This level boss brought to you by Pepsi.”

Coke adds life… creepy, crawly life.

Nike lets you run faster… or makes you want to run.

Do you want fries with that

The latest in ladies’ handbugs

Source: BuzzFeed

Wii U eShop Allows In-Game Purchases

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Some developers have expressed their dismay over certain features with the Wii U, such as not being able to buy content within their games unless visiting the eShop outside of the app. However, that could very well be a thing of the past, thanks to a new Web Framework program.

First talked about back in March at the Game Developers Conference, the program now appears to be up and running. During GDC Europe this week, Martin Buchholz, manager of developer relations for Nintendo, confirmed that the framework now has an update, one that will allow eCommerce support. This means developers can now add DLC purchases directly into the apps, rather than requiring users to take the “outside route” to make their buys.

It’s still not an entirely smooth process, but this improvement to the service could attract more indie developers to the system – which would work to Nintendo’s benefit by increasing the number of games available.

Source: Engadget

‘Seinfeld’ Parody Tweets Score Comedian TV Gig

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Did you hear about the former BuzzFeed writer whose parody Seinfeld Twitter feed got him staffed on Fox’s upcoming Alexis Bledel/Jason Ritter sitcom Us & Them?

This isn’t build up for a joke, this really happened. Since its debut in December 2012, Jack Moore’s comedic account @seinfeldtoday — which has over 630,000 followers laughing, including Jason Alexander (you might remember him better as George from the show) – has become an industry favorite for its perfectly pitched contemporary storylines for the ’90s sitcom.

Seriously, his mix of relevant Internet culture, paired with his well-executed depictions of the ’90s characters makes it a sensation. Here are a few samples:

“Jerry discovers Newman is secretly an Internet-famous fan fiction writer. George gets aroused reading 50 Shades of Grey, questions self.”

“George is briefly implicated in the latest Anthony Weiner scandal because his OKCupid handle is Carlos Danger.”

“Jerry’s vacation’s ruined by the stress of avoiding Breaking Bad spoilers. Elaine’s never seen the show, ruins a viewing party w/ questions.”

The attention that the account garnered the New York University grad, also an aspiring playwright and comedian in Hollywood, led to calls from managers and agents, ultimately, landing him the position on the Fox sitcom which appropriately revolves abound a romantic online relationship.

Given the content of @modernseinfeld, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise and didn’t seem so to Moore himself: “I was basically pitching storylines, which is a huge part of being on a writing staff,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.

Moore isn’t the first young writer to secure a sitcom job via Twitter.

Twenty-something Megan Amram joined the staffs of Disney Channel’s A.N.T. Farm, and, later, NBC;s Parks and Recreation after her popular feed got her noticed. Justin Halpern of Sh— My Dad Says actually secured a CBS sitcom based on his Twitter feed in 2010.

Us & Them isn’t expected to hit the schedule until midseason, but you can check out the trailer while you wait.

 

Source: The Daily Beast

 

PS Vita Sale At Target And Best Buy

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With business slow for Sony’s PlayStation Vita game system, some might think that a price drop may be in order. Meanwhile, some retailers are clearing out PS Vita inventory with a sale price. This could be merely a way to get rid of slow-moving product, or possibly it’s preparation in advance of newly priced PS Vita inventory.

Target and Best Buy have begun selling both the Wi-Fi and 3G models of the Vita for $199.99, which is roughly about a $50 drop from what the system usually sells for ($100 in the case of the 3G model). Though the quantities are limited online, customers can go into stores and do a price match if they’re able to find it there.

Considering Sony is looking to make big waves at Gamescom this week — and its PS Vita line-up will pick up again next month with the release of Killzone: Mercenary — an official price drop wouldn’t be out of the question. The company’s press conference will be taking place this morning, so we should know more official news soon.

Source: Target

NCsoft Unveils New ‘Wildstar’ Business Model

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NCsoft is taking a new approach to one of its more popular games, the MMO title Wildstar. Rather than going with the usual approach for free-to-play and leaning heavily on microtransactions, there’s a new model in mind here.

Talking with Gamesindustry International, NCsoft’s Jeremy Gaffney explained, “Business models are a very polarizing thing. Some people love this model or hate that model, but if you look on forums you’ll see that people hate models a lot more than they love ’em. They’ve been burned before. They know the downside way more than they know the upside.”

With this new system, NCsoft is looking to take the best elements from subscriptions and micro-transactions and mesh them together into one well-operating system. “There’s two major options to play,” he said. “One is super simple: buy a box, and pay a subscription. There’s a class of player that likes that, because they know how much they’re paying, they know the playing field is level, and they can expect big updates. That’s the joy of the subscription model.”

The game will still provide an opportunity to play Wildstar for free, though that hasn’t been fleshed out just yet. Players will be able to earn C.R.E.D.D., or virtual tokens, either through real purchase or trading up with others at the ‘Commodities Exchange.’

“The job we have to do right is to make sure that gold enters the economy properly,” Gaffney said. “Not in an abusive fashion, not with exploits. The second thing is to make sure that there’s fun ways for gold to be spent… We have a couple of ways that gold enters and leaves the economy that aren’t normal with other games, so it’s going to make C.R.E.D.D. feel quite different to systems in other games. But I freely admit that we have to do our job well on that. If not, then people will opt to pay for a subscription instead.”

Source: GamesIndustry International

Xbox One Titles Revealed

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In an effort to get some hype built up for the Xbox One leading into its presentation this week at Gamescom, Microsoft has unveiled a list of games coming to the next-generation machine. Though they aren’t all launch titles – some are due in 2014 – it’s an impressive list, with a number of surprising exclusives to go along with the multi-platform titles which will also appear on PlayStation 4. Here’s the list.

Exclusive

  • Below (Capy Games, Microsoft Studios)
  • Crimson Dragon (Grounding/Land Ho!, Microsoft Studios)
  • D4 (Access Games, Microsoft Studios)
  • Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver, Microsoft Studios)
  • Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved (Harmonix, Disney Interactive)
  • Forza Motorsport 5 (Turn 10 Studios, Microsoft Studios)
  • Halo Xbox One (343 Industries, Microsoft Studios)
  • Killer Instinct (Double Helix, Microsoft Studios)
  • Kinect Sports Rivals (Rare, Microsoft Studios)
  • LocoCycle (Twisted Pixel, Microsoft Studios)
  • Minecraft: Xbox One Edition (Mojang Studios, Microsoft Studios)
  • Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PopCap Games, Electronic Arts)
  • Powerstar Golf (Zoe Mode, Microsoft Studios)
  • Project Spark (Microsoft Studios)
  • Quantum Break (Remedy, Microsoft Studios)
  • Ryse: Son of Rome (Crytek, Microsoft Studios)
  • Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac Games, Microsoft Studios)
  • Titanfall (Respawn Entertainment, Electronic Arts)
  • Zoo Tycoon (Frontier Developments Ltd., Microsoft Studios)

Exclusive Content or Timed Exclusive

  • Battlefield 4 (DICE, Electronic Arts)
  • Call of Duty: Ghosts (Infinity Ward, Activision)
  • FIFA 14 (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)

Multiplatform

  • Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (Ubisoft, Ubisoft)
  • Destiny (Bungie, Activision)
  • Dragon Age: Inquisition (BioWare, Electronic Arts)
  • Dying Light (Techland, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
  • EA Sports UFC (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)
  • Final Fantasy XV (Square Enix, Square Enix)
  • Just Dance 2014 (Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft)
  • Kingdom Hearts III (Square Enix 1st Production Department, Square Enix)
  • LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (TT Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
  • Mad Max (Avalanche Studios, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
  • Madden NFL 25 (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)
  • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Kojima Productions, Konami)
  • Mirror’s Edge 2 (DICE, Electronic Arts)
  • NBA 2K14 (Visual Concepts, 2K Sports)
  • NBA LIVE 14 (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)
  • Need for Speed: Rivals (Ghost Games, Electronic Arts)
  • Skylanders: Swap Force (Vicarious Visions, Activision)
  • Star Wars Battlefront (DICE, Electronic Arts)
  • The Crew (Ivory Towers, Ubisoft)
  • The Elder Scrolls Online (ZeniMax Online Studios, Bethesda Softworks)
  • The Evil Within (Tango Gameworks, Bethesda Softworks)
  • The LEGO Movie Videogame (TT Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt RED, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – North America)
  • Thief (Eidos Montreal, Square Enix)
  • Tom Clancy’s The Division (Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft)
  • Watch_Dogs (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft)
  • Wolfenstein: The New Order (MachineGames, Bethesda Softworks)
  • Zumba Fitness: World Party (Zoë Mode, Majesco)

That’s a solid line-up for the new console. The Xbox One launches later this year.

Source: USgamer